Brands Hatch beckons for BARC championships

The British Automobile Racing Club will head to Brands Hatch this weekend (October 27/28) where two days of enthralling championship-deciding action will be staged around the Indy circuit.

In what is the first of a host of visits to the Kent venue in the coming weeks as the 2018 season draws to a close, a total of five BARC categories will duke it out for supremacy.

Headlining the action will be no less than eight races from the Classic Touring Car Championship. Home to some of the most iconic and eye-catching saloon cars from down the years, the series has produced memorable action throughout this past season and champions are set to be crowned in pulsating fashion.

Luc Wilson, Patrick Harris and Andy Meesham will battle it out for the Paul Inch Race Engines CTCRC Pre-66 Touring Car crown whilst there will be no such trouble for Stephen Primett in the CTCRC Group 1 Pre-83 Touring Cars, the Ford driver having already successfully retained his title.

The Envirotec Hygiene Services Pre 93 Touring Car battle is set to boil down between Ian Bower and David Hunt, the two having been near inseparable all-year long.

Steve Barden and Anna Barden find themselves in the fortunate position of having an unassailable lead in the YourITMan Pre-03 Touring Cars and Toyo Tires Pre-05 Touring Cars respectively, therefore meaning they can look ahead to signing their campaigns off in style over the course of the weekend.

Capping off the racing from the series will be a pair of encounters from the Burton Blue Power Oval Saloon Series and the Hammerite Classic Thunder Touring Cars, both of which have champions already decided in the shape of Piers Grange and Ilsa Cox.

With big grids and some titles still to be settled, this weekend’s Classic Touring Car Championship action is not to be missed, with entertainment guaranteed all the way.

The Max5 Racing Championship will also round out their 2018 season at Brands Hatch with titles to be decided in two of the three classes.

Class A has seen an enthralling three-way fight play out throughout the year and heading into the finale, Josh Malin finds himself in the pound seat. Holding a 27-point advantage over Matthew Tidmarsh, Malin will be keen to add to his nine race wins to seal the title whilst Andrew Pretorius can’t be discounted from making his mark too.

Richard Smith’s consistency means he is out of touch of his rivals in Class B however a head-to-head battle in Class C between Paul Roddison and Jeremy Shipley is sure to get pulses racing.

Also on the billing will be the BARC South East Centre’s trio of championships; the BARC South East Tin Tops Championship, BARC South East Modified Saloon Car Championship and Scrapco/Avon Intermarque Championship.

With all manner of machinery competing in these three categories, variety really is the spice of life and regulars to Brands Hatch will be well acquainted with them.

Joining the BARC will be two races from the Reprise IT Tiedeman Trophy Championship, both of which will be run on Saturday.